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MIPIM 2024: What's on our team's radar?

As we approach MIPIM 2024, our team of ten shares their perspectives on the matters set to spark discussion at the premier real estate event in Cannes. Our delegation presents the evolving demands shaping the future of the sector – from enhancing productivity to achieving net zero, amplifying social value to advancing gender mainstreaming – setting the stage for dialogue and progress at MIPIM.

Fresh off the recent publication of the London Plan Review, I am looking forward to discussions around how, as an industry, we can seek to significantly boost housing delivery in the Capital. The review highlighted the urgent need for housing and particularly affordable housing delivery to address social, economic and cultural consequences arising from the current shortfall. A bold and collaborative public and private sector response is needed to drive the sustainable delivery of new homes and with it, maintain London’s status as a leading and diverse global city. MIPIM represents an exciting opportunity to start the discussion on responding to the conclusions of the review in the backdrop of wider economic and construction constraints.   

We continue to be engaged in significant projects across the Midlands and Eastern regions and have seen the difference our work can make to the communities in which they are located.  Building on our involvement in Paradise in Birmingham, and our recent appointment as part of the Vinci/ Ion team to work with Derby City Council, I am looking forward to discussing how partnership working can help to deliver major regeneration and growth. This effective collaboration between organisations, as well as the public and private sectors, is key to unlocking the potential of locations to foster economic growth and set new benchmarks for thriving communities.

Two areas of interest for me, which are crucial to our industry, is improving the productivity of our places and smart energy management for net zero.

In the UK, and the developed world more broadly, we have a productivity crisis. It is stopping us improving quality of life and even causing political unrest. The property and urban development sector has a crucial role in improving productivity. Whilst we know construction and redevelopment plays a role in improving productivity, we don’t focus enough on how we can guide development to maximise productivity. There are big picture issues around land value capture, how the planning system works and immediate ways in which development can contribute. 

On net zero, we are seeing the all-electric city become a reality. As developers and governments drive heat pumps, electric vehicle charging, solar power in our urban environments, we also depend more on wind power and solar farms. This combination of more electrical demand and intermittent supplies means we need to be smarter about when we use energy and energy storage. 

These both present great opportunities that I hope will be major topics of conversation at MIPIM.

As I prepare for MIPIM, my priorities are to focus upon addressing London's urgent need for both housing and logistics and how innovative approaches are key to overcoming challenges. Our upcoming, third annual ‘Co-location in London’ report, set for release post-MIPIM, will offer further insight into a promising path to simultaneously tackle the city’s residential and industrial land supply crises and I’ll be keen to discuss these findings with the industry in Cannes. Additionally, I am particularly keen on exploring the role of Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in this context, as it represents a significant opportunity to contribute to solving London’s housing shortage. My goal at MIPIM is to advocate for moving beyond conventional methods to overcome the capital's challenges, highlighting the necessity for creative, integrated solutions that can meet diverse needs.

I am interested in hearing about the future of our cities both in terms of the increasing array of residential mix, business and cultural opportunities that are emerging to deliver the next wave of renaissance but also the increasing power of collaboration in unlocking such opportunities for all. Leveraging the potential of emerging technologies and sustainable practices, as well as innovative planning and development strategies, will be key to creating smarter, more resilient environments that can adapt to the changing needs of people and the planet.

As a MIPIM Challenger, I’m looking forward to having the platform to share my ideas and solutions to challenges faced by the property industry. The programme, new for 2024, comprises a range of workshops to debate the issues faced by the industry. It brings young professionals from around the world together to innovate, concluding with the Challenger’s Conference, where I will present my ideas to an expert panel of CEOs and property industry leaders, alongside my co-Challengers. 

I'm particularly focused on enhancing inclusivity in the built environment and the integration of gendered perspectives at all stages. Local Plan consultations and the recent NPPF consultation are raising queries around the consideration of women and girls, plus Glasgow Council have recently adopted a feminist approach to urban planning. It is important that developers are aware of this evolving policy direction and consider how their schemes may benefit from incorporating a gendered perspective. 

I am excited to make my debut and represent our team at MIPIM. This is a great opportunity to engage with a broad spectrum of developers, investors, and industry professionals to identify the best means to unlock the potential of our regions. We will achieve our potential by attracting new and innovative solutions to drive sustainable economic growth – regenerating and repurposing our towns and cities, delivering a range of housing options and meeting the challenge of achieving net zero. 

I’m also delighted to be supporting the Cardiff Capital Region, raising the profile of the significant development potential across South Wales (and with the support of the Western Gateway, the wider South West region). There’s a lot to be excited about at MIPIM this year.

As we navigate growing socio-economic, climate and housing challenges, the focus on social value in the built environment is not only morally compelling, but increasingly a strategic priority. I’m eager to build on discussions with the industry at MIPIM on how social value driven approaches are not only transformative in helping secure permissions, but also in developing resilient, thriving communities. Our team sees first-hand how engaging genuinely with communities and embedding tangible social value significantly enhances consent prospects, whilst demonstrating a commitment to meaningful, positive change. I’ll be sharing strategies for identifying, measuring and sustaining this impact, demonstrating how every development can achieve their goals and better fulfil the needs of people and communities.

I’m looking forward to discussions about how we can ensure we are making space in the built environment for commercial uses, boosting the creation of jobs and ensuring economic growth. I’m particularly interested in talking and hearing about digital and data sectors and the scope for realising the UK’s growth strategy. With digital technologies and processes transforming every aspect of our lives, the increasing integration of data centres, technology hubs and logistics facilities into our planning will support the economy and UK’s growth as a global leader in technology and innovation.

I am looking forward to meeting fellow professionals, collaborators and clients at MIPIM 2024 in what is an exciting time for ESG. This year will see the launch of the Science Based Targets initiative’s (SBTi’s) buildings sector guidance, which will globally support financial institutions, developers and asset owners and managers to set 1.5°C-aligned science-based targets. I am also pleased to have been involved in the task force involved with the development of the UK’s first Net Zero Building Standard and we are actively involved in the deployment of UKGBC’s Renewable Procurement Guidance, which bridges the gap between asset owners, operators and energy suppliers. 

We are also seeing growing traction and a need for embedding health and wellbeing across real estate, another piece of the wider productivity puzzle that Barny has highlighted. I am also excited to share more on a framework we have co-created to audit real estate assets from a social lens. There have been great advances in the streamlining of ESG and I’m looking forward to engaging at MIPIM and driving the ever greater sharing of knowledge across geographies and different organisations. Keep an eye on our Turley ESG Bites Podcast for updates.  
 

To learn more about our MIPIM presence, visit our MIPIM 2024 showcase page, or reach out to the team directly to arrange a meeting.

4 March 2024